Waratah Fencing helping protect Cape York - 28 August 2015

Waratah Fencing is helping to protect Cape York Peninsula’s beautiful landscapes by delivering training to traditional owners and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers (QPWS).

The training will give owners and rangers further knowledge and skills in planning and building fences.

“This north Queensland region is home to an amazing range of wetlands, river systems, rainforests, beaches and grasslands,” Waratah Fencing Territory Sales Manager Cameron Condon said.

“The Cape’s national parks provide stunning examples of these remarkable landscapes and the right fencing is necessary to protect these ecologically diverse areas.”

Mr Condon said that recently, 21 Traditional Owners from across Cape York Peninsula took part in a training program on boundary fencing and wire mesh fencing for feral exclusion.

“Waratah has now run two training programs for the traditional owners.

“Both sessions were very well received and since the first lot of training, at least 12 people have gone on to be employed in fencing jobs around the Cape.

“The other great positive is that the training has provided some very high quality fences, and increased rangers’ and owners’ knowledge of fence construction and maintenance.”

Mr Condon said fencing in the area was used by QPWS to keep out cattle from bordering properties, as well as other pests.

“Wild pigs are a problem pest in the Cape. The wild pigs not only destroy native fauna but they can be very destructive to wetlands as well,” Mr Condon said.

Mr Condon said this is particularly true in an area known as Keatings Lagoon, south of Cooktown where one of the recent training sessions was held.

“Keatings Lagoon is important from an ecological point of view, but given it is also a key visitor site, QPWS need to protect the resource for the visitors as well.

“Most significantly, for the traditional owners of this park, the Waymbuurr clan of the Guugu Yimidhirr people, it is a very special place so its conservation and protection is of absolute importance.

“I think this is a really great example of Cape York’s traditional owners, national park management and a commercial business like Waratah joining together to build knowledge and protect our conservation areas,” Mr Condon said.